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Opponents Say Mayor Caved in to Republicans

Democrats with mayoral aspirations attacked Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg yesterday for what they said was a capitulation to the whims of the Bush campaign during the Republican National Convention.

Mr. Bloomberg had planned to use his convention speech to chide the Republican Congress over the way it calculated domestic security funds.

Bush campaign officials objected to the remarks, arguing that the convention was no place to criticize other Republicans, and asked the mayor to cut that part of his speech, aides to both men confirmed this week.

But Mr. Bloomberg, infuriated by the request, refused, and for an hour or so was removed from the program, less than three hours before he was supposed to speak. In the end, Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's chief political strategist, signed off on the remarks, and Mr. Bloomberg agreed to remove a sentence critical of Congress. The speech did include two pointed remarks about the funds.

"He did what he was told by George Bush and Karl Rove," Mr. Weiner wrote. "At the end of the day, 'back room' negotiations and anonymous postgame spin can't change that when the mayor took the big stage he said: 'I want to thank President Bush for supporting New York City. I am here to support him."'

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Not to be outdone, Gifford Miller, the City Council speaker, gave reporters a letter he wrote Mr. Bloomberg that detailed various ways he thought Mr. Bloomberg should have attacked Congress and Mr. Bush.

"I am disappointed that you did not use your position and the opportunity of the Republican National Convention to fight wholeheartedly for the vital resources that our city needs," Mr. Miller wrote.

Democrats have been seizing on Mr. Bloomberg's support of President Bush since last summer, arguing that it has been bad for the city. Mr. Bloomberg, who said he voted for Mr. Bush, has tried to distance himself from his policies. His poll numbers have climbed a few points since the summer.

Edward Skyler, the mayor's press secretary, said, "It's not surprising that the usual crop of mayoral wannabes, none of whom were even given a role at their party's convention, are taking their usual political potshots because they can't stand it when the mayor wins a fight."